Heating system



FIP8211 XR I 2,077,599

April 20, 1937. N. B, WALES 7 HEATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l i E g i zggamme SYSTEMS, Cross Referenc 's mim April 20, 1937. B, WALES 2,077,599

HEATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 l V i A S a) I: J- E- S C: Q t H 7 ,7. 1490' 95/24! INVENTOR 237..HEAT|NG SYSTEMS, 55

Examine April 20, 1937. B, W Es 2,077,599

HEATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a i i i E] w i HUI: VWI- l 1 .5- I W !i",.a!II!HH!H T 1 3a, WWW/WW rum,

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE HEATING SYSTEM Nathaniel B. Wales, New York, N. Y.

Application November 18, 1936, Serial No. 111,435

9 Claims. ((31. 237-55) This invention relates to a heat distributing system in which an ordinary fireplace is the heating source. My invention more particularly relates to the structure and combination comprising my system which is exterior to the fireplace and discloses a heating system in no sense an auxiliary to the fireplace or as a secondary heating system for a building, but may be considered as a primary heating system to be initially in- 10 stalled in a building or one that can be readily installed in any building already having a fireplace to replace the existing heating system if it is ineificient.

The inate cheerfulness of an open fire is well known. For this reason, I have developed a highly efficient and, above all, a very low-cost heating system, the source of which is this open fire, and I may make use of any existing fireplace without having to materially alter the same.

Furthermore, I have devised means to utilize not only a wood burning andiron equipped fireplace, but also I incorporate into a fireplace an automatic oil or coal burning unit before which the fascination of an open moving flame may be enjoyed, and, at the same time, the house upstairs or down will be flooded with even temperature heating. In many houses where there are no cellars, and there are many of them in this country, my system is especially adapted.

The cheapest heating system today for a small or medium size house is a warm air furnace heat- .ing system. The cheapest part of this system is the galvanized iron ducts used to distribute the warm air. I have devised a system which, outside of a small electric motor and two small blowers and a simple means of safe control, uses only iron ducts of ordinary weight and structure. In utilizing this low-cost type of material, I prefer to pass the gases of combustion through such ducts under sub-atmospheric pressure, inasmuch as the central or inner heated duct carrying the products of combustion is surrounded by an air heating duct at a pressure above atmospheric, the two ducts constituting my heat-interchanger, and it through defect or long usage there is a leakage therebetween, the leakage flow will and should be into the products of combustion flue rather than the reverse.

Also by extending this cheap and simple form of heat-interchanger substantially around the entire floor plan of the building to be heated, I obtain a long free path for heat-interchange and hence good thermal efficiency in the system, yet with positive circulation therethrough. It is to be noted hat I beat my heating medium as and during its actual distribution to the various register outlets therefor, a highly eflicient thermal process. I

It is to be particularly noted that the heatinterchanger, as disclosed in my system, is entirely exterior to the chimney or the fireplace. This is a valuable point in my invention, for fireplaces are made in an infinite variation as to size and shape, while I can install my novel heating system in any existing building now having a conventional chimney and fireplace without altering the same except by piercing two relatively small ducts into the chimney, which can be readily accomplished without material expense.

A further object realized by my invention is that inasmuch as I do not disturb the chimney or, fireplace per se by the introduction of heating surfaces therein, which also become inaccessible, the fireplace can be used indefinitely as formerly, that is, before my system was connected to it, with my system entirely latent without fear of heat-interchanger surface burning out or becoming overheated. It is obvious that I may employ other heating mediums than air, as for instance, hot water or vapor to distribute heat throughout the building.

It is to be understood that the drawings 'disclose one illustrative embodiment only of my novel combination which constitutes my invention. Further objects and details will be clearly brought forth in the specifications.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic assembly in elevation showing my heating system installed in a building. For clarity, the elements composing my system are arranged to facilitate following through the circuits involved and the building is shown without a cellar.

Fig, 2 is also diagrammatic and shows the floor plan of the same hypothetical'building as seen in Fig. 1, and clearly illustrates the heat-interchanger extending throughout the fioor plan of the building.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the automatic pneumatic chimney damper control.

Fig. 4 is a modification of my heating system insofar as the heating medium is concerned, showing in elevation a heat-interchanger located in the cellar of a building and adapted to circulate hot water receiving its heat from the fireplace located above.

'Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking into a fireplace and showing an automatic motor operated oil burner emplaced therein with firebrick or tile bafiles to direct the flame and heat therefrom, so as not to make the radiant heat from such a burner too great for comfort before the fireplace. It is obvious that an automatic coal burner could readily supplant the oil burner in such an arrangement and that, although I show a spinner type of oil burner, a gun type could also be utilized. Also I illustrate the burner emplaced in the rear wall of the fireplace, but the burner may be located on the floor of the hearth or elsewhere therein discharging its combustion upwards with suitable bafiiing for attractive fiame display.

Fig. 6 shows in diagrammatic sectional elevation the automatic oil burner as depicted in Fig. 5 and the combination of one motor driving, for completely safe co-ordination of operation, the oil burner, the products of combustion blower and the warm-air circulating blower.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in Fig. 1, numeral l is a fireplace equipped in a conventional manner with andirons 2, an electric motor 3 is directly connected to products of combustion suction blower 4, and blower 4 is directly connected to warm-air circulation blower 5. An elongated duct 6 opens out from the rear wall of fireplace l and makes connection with products of combustion duct 6. An enveloping duct 7 surrounds duct 6, duct 1 being connected to the discharge opening of blower 5, a damper 8 in duct 6 controlled by handle 9 controls the degree of induced draft in the fireplace I. As and when damper I is closed, as is shown in Fig. l, damper I0 is actuated to a closed position only when blower i ..ie-. 2 erati9n by.ineanthan, air"prs'siu'"tube H, see enlarged view, Fig. 3, where the rub'berizing" fabric-eore bellowfsjjlqjsf' shown in a-deflated'po'sitioni and by means of rod 13 and slotted link l4 which is secured to one of the trunnions 15 on which damper I0 is supported has brought damper I 0 to an open position allowing the natural draft of chimney IS to communicate with fireplace I. While in- Fig. 1,

' damper [U in dotted lines due to its position adjacent to but beyond the fireplace is shown closed, with my system in operation with bellows l2 distended, due to the static pressure of the air in tube H which at its further end is open to and within the duct 7 and reflects the discharge pressure of blower 5. In this manner due to weight I], see Fig. 3, on t l 1 e t o p of bellows I2, the dampor it! opens'lwli'never the blower 5 st op s and..QQ. versely shuts off chimney l6 when blower 5 starts. The heat-interchanger i'n'FigI 1 iseempesed "er combustion duct 6, interior to air duct 1, and as may be seen, these two ducts, see Fig. 2, extend around in a distributive circuit about the floor plan of the building. They may be branched into two circuits 6a and 'I--a, as well as 6b and 1-1), meeting again at 9-0 and 1-0, and combustion duct 6-demerges from air duct 1-c, and duct 6d, see Fig. 1, enters blower 4. The cooled products of combustion discharged by blower 4 enter duct l9 leading to the chimney l6 An ash clean-out 24 is provided in the depending section of combustion duct 6 for ash induced into the duct. The ducts 1 and m ylrerelhey amexnosedtorelatws y.loutem raturemueat the building, are properlyponveredmzith..insula;

- the circulated warm air.

Referring to Fig. 4, niuneral I is again any conventional fireplace with a source of heat therein, for illustrative purposes, burning wood. The damper I9 is shown with motor 25 in operation, cutting off the normal chimney draft due to the static pressure developed in tube 28 by its open end in communication with the pressure developed in combustion exhaust duct 3| by the discharge from blower 21 and communicating this pressure to inflate bellows l2, as previously described. A duct 29 opening into fireplace l connects to the top of heat-interchanger 3| located in the cellar, and being suitably insulated by insulation 39, duct 29 also has a draft control dampor 8 therein. The heat-interchanger 3| is representative of any liquid heater having circulation inlet 32 and hot circulation outlet 3 with an ash clean-out at 34. The blower 2! draws the products of combustion through the interchanger 3| and discharges them into the chinmey l5 through duct 28.

Referring to Fig. 5, numeral 1 is again the fireplace. In this phase of my invention, I show emplaced in the fireplace projecting from its rear wall or in any other practical position, the discharge orifice of a spinner type automatic oil burner 35, partially or totally surrounded by a system of tile baffles 36 and 31, the baffles 36 more particularly designed to thoroughly ignite the oilair mixture under incandescenoe, while the baffles 31 are designed to guide and deflect the productsof combustion upward to the elongated throat of the outlet duct 38, as seen in side elevation in Fig. 6. Baille 31 may be further elaborated to shield a person in front of the fireplace from the area of flame developed by this type of heater, so that the heat efiect from a standpoint of combined radiant and convected heat will be equivalent to the conventional log fire.

A motor 45, see Fig. 6, operates the oil burner 35 supplied by oil pipe 46 and ignited by any conventional means (not shown). The motor 45 is also shown to operate warm-air circulation blower 44 and products of combustion blower 43. The elongated outlet duct 38 leads into duct 39 or its equivalent which terminates into orifice 40 in communication with inner combustion duct 41 surrounded by air circulation duct 42 as previously described. The return air circulation duct 4| connects with the intake of air blower 44 while duct 48 conveys the-induced cooled products of combustion to the blower 43 and duct 49 discharges them into chimney IS. The synchronized operation of damper ID with the starting and stopping of motor 45 has previously been described, as well as the use of damper 8. It is obvious that in place of a motor operated oil bumer, a motor operated coal burner may be substituted wherein the motor thereof elevates the coal from the basement and feeds the fire in the fireplace and disposes of the ash, as automatic coal burners now on the market handle coal and ash in any ordinary heater in the cellar,

My system, as an entity, opens up a virgin field of better heating, as is exemplified in the enjoyment of an attractive flame display in a fireplace combined with eflicient and even heating throughout the building with relative low costs of purchase and installation.

What I desire to encompass by United States Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A heating system for buildings, comprising a fireplace, means for burning a fuel therein, a chimney connected therewith, a damper in said chimney connection, a by-pass duct entering said fireplace below said damper, forced induction means in said by-pass duct to induce the gases from said burning fuel in said fireplace into a heat-interchanger positioned below said fireplace and exterior thereto, and means to circulate a heating medium through said heat-interchanger and distribution means leading therefrom to distribute said medium into said building.

2. A heating system for buildings, including a fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, means to burn fuel in said fireplace, a heat-interchanger having a path of heat-interchange starting exterior to said chimney and said fireplace and positioned below said fireplace level, a products of combustion flue leading from said fireplace into said path of heat interchange, motor operated forcing means to induce said products of combustion from said burning fuel through said flue and into and through said path, a heating medium in said heat-interchanger, and means to circulate said medium through said interchanger into said building.

3. In a heating system for buildings, including a fireplace positioned in a room thereof, the burner of a motor driven fuel burner emplaced in said fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, a damper in said chimney connection, a products of combustion outlet from said fireplace positioned below said damper, forcing means to induce said products of combustion from said fireplace through said outlet into a heat-interchanger, and means to circulate a heating medium through said interchanger and to a space to be heated, and

heat deflecting bafiles positioned in front of said fuel burner in said fireplace to deflect an excess of heat generated therefrom from entering said room.

4. In a heating system for buildings, including a fireplace, the burner of a motor driven fuel burner emplaced in said fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, a damper in said chimney connection, a products of combustion outlet from said burner emplaced in said fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, a damper in said chimney connection, a products of combustion outlet from said fireplace positioned below said damper, motor operated forcing means to induce said products of combustion from said fireplace through said outlet into a heat-interchanger, said interchanger located exterior to said chimney and fireplace and below the level of said fireplace, and means to circulate a heating medium through said interchanger, and distributing means therefor, and automatic means to close said damper when said forcing means starts and to open said damper when said forcing means stops.

6. A heating system for a building, including a fireplace therein, means to burn fuel in said fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, damper means to closesaid chimney connection from said fireplace, motor operated suction means to induce the products of combustion from said fireplace through a flue entering said fireplace below said damper means, said flue leading to a heat-interchanger, said interchanger located below the level of said fireplace, said suction means discharging the products of combustion from said interchanger through a flue connected to said chimney above said damper means, and a heating medium for said building in said interchanger.

7. A heating system for buildings, comprising a combustion chamber, means for burning fuel therein, a chimney connected therewith, a bypass duct connected to said combustion chamber, forced induction means in said by-pass duct to induce the gases from said burning fuel in said combustion chamber into a heat-interchanger burner of a motor driven fuel burner emplaced in said fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, a damper in said chimney connection, a products of combustion outlet from said fireplace positioned below said damper, forcing means to induce said products of combustion from said fireplace through said outlet into a heat-interchanger, and means to circulate a heating medium through said interchanger and to a space to be heat-ed, and automatic means associated with said forcing means to close said damper when said forcing means starts and to open said damper when said forcing means stops.

9. In a heating system for buildings, including a fireplace positioned in a room thereof, the burner of a motor driven fuel burner emplaced in said fireplace, a chimney connected thereto, a damper in said chimney connection, a products of combustion outlet from said fireplace positioned below said damper, forcing means to induce said products of combustion from said fireplace through said outlet into a heat-interchanger, and means to circulate a heating medium through said interchanger and to a space to be heated, and automatic means associated with said forcing means to close said damper when said forcing means starts and to open said damper when said forcing means stops, and heat deflecting baffles positioned in front of said burner in said fireplace to deflect an excess of heat generated therefrom from entering said room.

NATHANIEL B. WALES. 

